SFPD debuts new drone to fight crime, ease understaffing – ABC7 Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — San Francisco police credit the use of technology as one of the reasons why crime is down 34 percent from this time last year. On Monday, the department and the city showed off how the new Drone as First Responder, or DFR, technology is making crime-fighting more effective and helping to ease the SFPD’s staffing shortage.

At first glance, there doesn’t appear to be anything noticeably different with the DFR technology compared to the drones already in use by the SFPD.

However, unlike the field drone program that launched seven months ago, DFRs are not warehouses in the back of a police car. A total of six will be serviced in a central location, such as on the roof, so that service response is faster.

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SFPD Chief Bill Scott called it a “game changer.”

A video released at Monday’s demonstration shows a bicycle thief being recorded entering a building with DFR technology. Moments later, police arrive on foot and a body camera shows the arrest.

“We’ve used it in car break-ins, sideshows, we’ve used it in so many cases to reduce some of the issues that are impacting the quality of life,” London Mayor Breed said.

SFPD says additional DFR footage like this will also lead to more convictions.

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DFRs are not a new technology in general. In fact, the Fremont Police and Fire Department launched their program in 2022. Fremont even provides information every time their DFRs are deployed. The calls for service shown ranged from domestic violence and robberies.

Six of the new DFR units will be located throughout the city. SFPD says that because of their speed and accuracy, they will help ease the department’s understaffing.

“We’re still short of 500 staff because staffing has deteriorated, staffing has increased. Not only will we help with response times, but we will increase our efficiency,” Chief Scott said.

London Mayor Breed also says co-operation with other agencies is key to making more arrests. That’s why San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan attended today’s press conference. He says his city will learn from the SFPD and hopefully be able to apply this technology to help fight crime, such as side shows.